Captain Ahab and Best In Show were victorious in round one of the Dream Maker Series on Monday, July 30 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
A group of 12 two-year-old pacers were split into a pair of $14,000 opening leg divisions of the Dream Maker.
Captain Ahab appeared to never break a sweat in cruising to a 1:52.4 victory in the evening’s first division.
The son of Captaintreacherous and driver Andrew McCarthy took their time at the beginning and got away fourth while Tyga Hanover paced out to the lead and posted a :29 opener.
With little speed on the front, Captain Ahab was given his cue to move in the second-quarter. The Tony Alagna trainee effortlessly claimed the lead before the half and paced by that station in :58.4.
Captain Ahab went to work in the back-half, pacing a :27.2 third-quarter and a :26.3 final-quarter to secure the victory at odds of 1/9. Shipshape, also from the Alagna barn, finished strong along the pylons with a :26.2 final-quarter to cross the wire in second, two-and-three-quarter lengths back of the winner. Tyga Hanover finished third, while Sauble Play was fourth.
Captain Ahab is now three for three in his young career. The son of Captaintreacherous came to Mohawk Park off back-to-back wins in the Kindergarten Series at The Meadowlands, including a national season’s best mile of 1:51.1 on July 20.
Captain Ahab is owned by Brittany Farms LLC, Brad Grant, Vincent Barbera and Captain Ahab Racing. He was a $100,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase and is the second-foal from a full-sister to Artpseak. He paid $2.40 to win.
Best In Show, the third foal from world-champion Put On A Show, shot through the rail to capture the second division in 1:54.1.
Driven by Sylvain Filion, Best In Show fired off the wings of the gate and tucked behind the first-leader Captain Nash, who controlled the tempo throughout. He posted fractions of :27.1, :57.4 and 1:27.3.
Best In Show capitalized on the rail opening and fired home in :26.1 to get by Captain Nash by half a length. Planet Hanover finished third, while U S Captain, the 3/5 favourite, finished fourth after sitting sixth for most of the mile.
Best In Show is owned by Richard Young and Joanne Young, who were also co-breeders of the son of Bettors Delight. The Tony O’Sullivan trainee was making his second start career Monday after finishing fourth in a Gold event on July 23. He returned $6.30 to win.
Live racing continues Tuesday, July 31 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A pair of Whenuwishuponastar Series divisions headlines an 11-race program.
(With files from Woodbine Mohawk Park)
To view Monday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.